Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Bring it on!!

...POWERFUL STORM SYSTEM TO AFFECT THE REGION INTO THE CHRISTMASWEEKEND...

.A VERY LARGE AND SLOW MOVING STORM SYSTEM DEVELOPING OVER THESOUTHERN PLAINS WILL SPREAD SNOW ACROSS EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA ANDNORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA THE NEXT FEW DAYS. LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPINGIN OKLAHOMA WILL SLOWLY MOVE INTO IOWA BY CHRISTMAS MORNING THENBECOME NEARLY STATIONARY. DUE TO THE SLOW MOVEMENT OF THISLOW...ABUNDANT MOISTURE WILL MOVE NORTHWARD FROM THE GULF OFMEXICO INTO THE COLD AIR OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS. SNOW ISFORECAST TO DEVELOP OVER THE SOUTHERN VALLEY REGION TONIGHT THENSPREAD NORTH...WITH SNOW CONTINUING INTO SATURDAY. THIS COULDBRING STORM TOTALS OF 8 TO 14 INCHESOVER MANY LOCATIONS. HIGHERAMOUNTS ARE POSSIBLE NEAR THE SOUTH DAKOTA BORDER AND WEST CENTRALMINNESOTA LAKES COUNTRY (THAT"S ME GUYS!!). NORTHERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE ON FRIDAYTO 15 TO 30 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. THIS WOULD RESULT IN POORVISIBILITY.

TRAVEL FOR CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY WILL LIKELY BEHAZARDOUS AND ANYONE WITH TRAVEL PLANS SHOULD STAY TUNED FORFORECAST UPDATES AS THE TRACK OF THE STORM AND SNOWFALL AMOUNTSCAN CHANGE.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND FORKS HAS ISSUED A WINTERSTORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHTTONIGHT TO 6 AM CST SATURDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGERIN EFFECT.

* SNOW WILL DEVELOP TONIGHT AND THEN CONTINUE INTO SATURDAY.

* SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF10 TO 15 INCHES COULD OCCUR WITH THIS SYSTEM WITH THE HEAVIEST AMOUNTS ALONG THE SOUTH DAKOTA BORDER.

* THE WIND TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY WILL NOT BE A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR...TURNING NORTH AND INCREASING TO 20 TO 30 MPH THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY CAUSING REDUCED VISIBILITY. EAST OF THE RED RIVER VALLEY WINDS WILL BE 10 TO 25 MPH. THESE WINDS WILL CAUSE REDUCED VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW.

* ANYONE WITH TRAVEL PLANS FOR CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS FOR UPDATES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHERCONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOWARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN ANEMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

Who we are

Ramsay Farms is situated in the northeastern part of Ottertail County, near Perham, Minnesota. This family farm of 320 acres has been in the Ramsay family for five generations, dating back to 1892. Today our farm prides itself on our Simmental cattle, Shetland Sheep and BlueFaced Leicester sheep. We strive to breed animals that closest match the breed standards given to them, and mindful of production, health and longevity in our animals as well.

In spring of 2016, there was a purchase of 32 acres in Green County, Wisconsin to accommodate Garrett for his work in that region. The animals have for the most part been moved to that location. Both locations will work in tandem to continue educating and promoting these animals and this way of life.

Tradtional 1927 Standard Shetland wool

Shetland Sheep Links

2015 pair

WhitePine Foley and daughter Frygg

From the Shetland Sheep Society

"Shetland sheep have for generations been noted for their very soft and well crimped fleece. The wool is the finest of all native breeds and shows an amazing variety of colours and patterns. There are 11 main whole colours and 30 recognised markings.

By selecting from coloured fleeces a range of naturally coloured yarn can be produced. This eliminates the need for dyeing and therefore retains the soft feel of the natural fibre and is favoured by those who prefer a totally natural approach.

Shetland wool fibres are of a simple construction witha central cortex covered by a thin scaly cuticle, and have an average diameter of about 23 microns. However there is a range from 10-20 microns for neck and shoulder wool to 25to 35 microns for britch wool. the average staple length is 3.5 inches. The amount of crimp varies, and is most important in providing the 'bounce' required for knitwear. There is a positive correlation between fineness and crimp, with wool of the finest quality being crimped at between 8 and 12 to the inch. Wool from shetland sheep is used to produce gossamer lace, the famous 'Fair Isle' knitwear, and fine tweeds. Pure bred Shetland sheep tend to shed their fleece in sprin. The growth of new fleece can cause a rise or weak point and where this is present the fleece can sometimes be plucked or 'rooed' by hand. The timing of this can be different in each sheep, however, it is worth taking the care to get it right as rooed fleece can be amongst the softest because the fibres have no harsh cut ends as occurs with a sheared fleece.

Shetland fleece can be handspun straight from the fleece or made into rolags and then woollen spun. It can also be sorsted spun by hand, used on a peg loom or handwoven. It also felts well using either dry or wet methods. When processed commercially the wool can be made into the finest lightweight worsted cloth or heavier weight, harder wearing fabrics and tweeds."

BlueFace Leicester

a beautiful typey ewe

Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are good is like expecting the bull not to charge because you are a vegetarian. - Dennis Wholey